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2016 March 23 - 29 TOP3 [WORLD]

editorial  Terror attacks are unpardonable barbarous acts

March 24, 2016
Akahata editorial (excerpts)

A series of terrorist attacks hit the Belgian capital of Brussels where the headquarters of the European Union (EU) is located. The Japanese Communist Party condemns the indiscriminant killing of ordinary citizens and extends its heartfelt condolences to families of the victims.

The extremist militant group IS, which instigates acts of terrorism around the world, claimed responsibility for the Brussels attacks. The U.S.-led “coalition of the willing” has been conducting airstrikes against the IS in Syria and Iraq. Reportedly, the attackers targeted Belgium partly because of its participation in the coalition of the willing.

However, no excuse is acceptable. They deprived innocent civilians of their lives without warning. The perpetrators and their abettors must be arrested and brought to justice.

It has become increasingly obvious that the bombing campaigns cannot stop terrorism. The strengthening of military operations is creating more civilian casualties and incurring greater hatred from jihadists and affected citizens, only causing a vicious cycle of increased terrorism and airstrikes.

The UN Security Council in its resolutions repeatedly calls on the world’s governments to cooperate in implementing various anti-terror measures such as cutting off their access to the inflow of funds and weapons and prohibiting the travel of foreign fighters. To make these measures more effective, an increase in international cooperation is essential so that neighboring countries can reinforce their border controls.

Terrorists in Europe are said to include people from the Middle East or Africa as well as their descendants. Poverty, inequality, and discrimination based on religion or race are factors that attract them to terrorist organizations. Therefore, it is important for the international community to step up its efforts to work to eliminate these problems. It is also necessary to pursue solutions to the Syrian and Iraqi civil wars, make efforts to bring about regional peace and stability, and increase efforts to provide humanitarian aid to large numbers of refugees.

The government of Japan should not apply the national security legislation to enable Japan’s participation in the U.S.-led military operations. What it should do is to participate in international efforts centering on the UN to force the terrorist organization into dissolution.

Past related articles:
> Shii in lecture at Tokyo University calls for united anti-terrorism efforts by international community [November 23, 2015]
> Global community should unite to isolate terrorist groups [February 2, 2015]
> Japan should learn lesson from prewar aggression started by using pretext of ‘protection of Japanese nationals’ [February 2 & 3, 2015]
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